peer

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɪɹ/ UK /pɪə/ See IPA manual

Homophones

pier /pɪɹ/

Freq #13281

Meanings

1

verb
To look closely or with difficulty, as if trying to see something clearly.

We peered into the back of the shop to see if anyone was around.
2

noun
A person who is equal to another in age, rank, or status.

Teenagers are often influenced by their peers.
3

noun
A member of the nobility who holds a title such as duke or lord.

He was made a peer of the realm by the queen.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a person who is equal to... compeer

Word family

Forms peeredpeeringpeers

Derived forms depeernonpeeroutpeeroverpeerpeer-reviewedpeer-to-peerpeercastpeerdompeererpeeresspeerhoodpeeringly

Appears in

Phrases (1)

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Simplified etymology

Peer entered English in the Middle English period with the basic sense “equal.” It derives ultimately from Latin par, meaning “equal.”

Etymology

From Middle English per, pere, from Anglo-Norman peir, Old French per, from Latin pār. Doublet of pair and par.

per Middle English peir xno pār Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# peer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /pɪɹ/
**IPA (UK):** /pɪə/
**Frequency rank:** 13281

## Meanings
1. To look closely or with difficulty, as if trying to see something clearly.
2. A person who is equal to another in age, rank, or status.
3. A member of the nobility who holds a title such as duke or lord.

## Examples
- We peered into the back of the shop to see if anyone was around.
- Teenagers are often influenced by their peers.
- He was made a peer of the realm by the queen.

## Derived Forms
- depeer
- nonpeer
- outpeer
- overpeer
- peer-reviewed
- peer-to-peer
- peercast
- peerdom
- peerer
- peeress
- peerhood
- peeringly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: per
- Root: peir
- Root: pār

## Etymology
From Middle English per, pere, from Anglo-Norman peir, Old French per, from Latin pār. Doublet of pair and par.

## AI Etymology
Peer comes from Middle English per, pere, from Anglo-Norman peir, Old French per, from Latin pār. Doublet of pair and par. Modern senses include to look closely or with difficulty, as if trying to see something clearly and a person who is equal to another in age, rank, or status. The wider word family includes derivatives such as depeer, nonpeer, outpeer, overpeer, peer-reviewed, and peer-to-peer.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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